Amos Perrine
Through the Lens: MerleFest 2026 Was a “Traditional Plus” Triumph!
MerleFest – named for Doc Watson's son Merle – had rather humble beginnings in 1988, when traditional musicians gathered on a flatbed trailer as a fundraiser for the Wilkes Community College, where the fest has been held ever since.
The fest is best described by Doc himself, “When Merle and
THROUGH THE LENS: Bruce Springsteen, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, and Other Photos of the Week
THROUGH THE LENS: Treefort Music & Tucson Folk Fests Rally Roots Music Fans Out West
This week’s column covers two roots music fests in the western United States: Treefort Music Fest in Boise, Idaho (March 25-29, 2026); and Tucson Folk Festival in Tucson, Arizona (April 10-12, 2026).
While Treefort is much larger in scope — over 500 performances to Tucson’s 150 — both fests are
THROUGH THE LENS: Cayamo 2026 Captivated Roots Music Fans While Cruising In The Caribbean
The 18th Cayamo cruise set sail out of Miami on March 13, 2026 and, with stops in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, returned to home port on March 20, 2026. Promoted by founder Sixthman as “A Journey Through Song,” the floating festival yet again delivered unforgettable sets
THROUGH THE LENS: Three Phenomenal Roots Music Gatherings in Texas — SXSW, Luck Reunion, and Todd Snider Rules!
Mid-March 2026 was a humdinger of three Texas gatherings crucial to roots music, South by Southwest (SXSW), Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion, and a tribute to Todd Snider, “Todd Snider Rules!”
Luck Reunion ( held on Nelson's ranch in Spicewood, Texas) is a one-day event (March 19, 2026). This
